Suction drum press



Oct. 28, 1947. 1.. HORNBOSTEL 2,429,589

SUCTION DRUM PRESS Filed March ll, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l n ZHYEWZAIJF LLOYD f/ae/vsosrt-L.

1.. HORNBOSTEL 'SUCTION DRUM PRESS 'F ild March 11', 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1947 SUCTION namuranss Lloyd Hornbostel, Beloit, Wis asslgnor to Belolt Iron Works, Beloit, Wis'., a

cousin corporation of Wis- Application March 11, 1944, Serial No. 525,979

(Cl. 9H3) Claims. 1

This invention relates to suction drum presses for paper making machines wherein wet, fragile paper webs are pressed between felts in a vertical nip draining bygravity away from the felt and web and wherein both faces of the nip are subjected to suction so that water from the web passes laterally outward from both faces of the web through both covering felts.

The invention deals specifically with cylinder type paper making machines having pick-up felts with wet, soggy newly formed paper webs thereon directed under a suction drum and wrapped around the periphery of the drum through a vertical nip defined by the drum and a cooperating suction roll. A top felt is also preferably directed around the drum to cover the web on the pick-up felt in advance of the nip. In one embodimcnt of the invention the pick-up felt and top felt follow over the top of the suction drum to carry the paper web back over the cylinder mold. In this embodiment the suction drum is preferably equipped with a light suction area following the suction nip area to hold the web and felt on the drum.

In another embodiment of the invention the pick-up felt of the cylinder type paper making :machine conveys the web under the suction drum and the web is covered with a top felt within a suction area of the drum. A cooperating suction upress roll having a suction area positioned at the nip-. between the drums and extending past the niptransfers both felt and web to the cooperating'roll. This roll has a second suction press nip receiving the felt and web therein.

-In both embodiments of the invention, gravity 'drainage of water from a vertical nip is away from the felt and web, so that squeezed out water from the self-draining nip cannot rewet the felt or web. This is important if one or both rolls is a plain roll.

While the invention will hereinafter be specifically described in connection with a cylinder type paper making machine, it will be understood that the suction drum presses of this invention are adapted for usage in other types of machines.

It is, then, an object of the invention to provide a suction drum press which subjects a paper web simultaneously to the action of pressure and oppositely pulling suction which draws moisture from both faces of the web being pressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction press for paper making machines wherein top and bottom covering felts for a paper web are simultaneously subjected to pressure and suction for drawing water through both faces of the web.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a cylinder type paper making machine wherein the pick-up felt is trained around a suction drum, subjected to suction on the lower portion with a suction press assembly ,26

of the drum, subjected to pressure between the upper andlower portions of the drum, and subjected to light suction on the upper portion of the drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction drum press for cylinder type paper making machines receiving the pick-up felt from the last cylinder mold and providing a self-draining suction nip for the pick-up felt with the paper web V thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction drum press with a vertical nip which receives a paper web covered by top and bottom felts in an upward direction around one of the rolls defining the nip so that water squeezed out of the nip will drain by gravity away from the felts and web.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction press for paper making machines which has suction areas in cooperating suction rolls acting on the same pressure nip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cylinder type paper making machine receiving the pickup felt of the machine and subjecting the same to suction in advance of a pressure nip and increasing the amount of suction at the pressure nip while simultaneously pressing the felt.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of preferred examples, illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevational diagrammatic view, with parts in vertical cross section, of a cylinder type paper making machine equipped with one form of suction drum press according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating a cylinder type paper making machine equipped with anotherembodiment of a suction drum press according to this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral Iii designates a vat of a cylinder type paper making machine rotatably carrying a cylinder mold ll partly immersed in stock in the vat and partly extending above the open top of the vat. A pickup felt I2 is directed over the top of the cylinder mold II and a couch roll l3 within the loop of the pick-up felt l2 acts on the felt to couch 'be understood that a plurality of such vats, molds, and rolls can be used in advance of the illustrated assembly, and the pick-up felt l2 can he directed over thetops of each of the cylinder molds to build up a laminated web-Won the under face thereof. In accordance with this invention a suction drum press assembly I4 is mounted immediately adjacent the vat ID, to receive the pick-up felt and web from the last cylinder mold of the cylinder machine. v The suction drum press assembly l4 includes a suitable frame I 5 supporting suction rolls or drums l6 and H. The drum [6 includes a rotatably mounted perforated cylinder l8, a stationary suction gland or suction box l9 within the cylinder l8, a suction trunnion pipe for draining the suction box l9, and packing strips 2|, 22 and 23 on the suction box I9 cooperating to provide localized suction areas A and B of ap-, preciable width on the cylinder or shell l8. As shown, packing strip 2| is on the under side of the suction box l9 and the packing strip 22 is at about the horizontal center of the shell. A wide suction area, A is provided between the packing strips 2| and 22 and, since this area extends to the under side of the suction box, a portion of the box l9a continues upwardly from the strip 2| to retain water in the suction box.

. This leaves a reduced opening i917 in the suction box for connecting the suction area A with the interior of the box. The opening l9b, however, is unobstructed.

The third packing strip 23 is provided on the box I 9 at the top thereof and cooperates with the strip 22 to define a wide suction area B extending from the horizontal center line of the shell to the top portion thereof. The suction gland or suction box only has a reduced opening I90 connecting the suction area B with the interior thereof and a butterfly-type valve 24 is provided in this opening I90 to adjust the size of the opening for varying the suction in the suction area B as compared with the suction in the suction area A. This valve 24 is usually set, so that the suction in area B is lower than the suction in area A.

The roll I! i rotatably mounted on levers such as 25 pivoted at their lower ends on the frame I5 and having rods 26 projecting from their upper ends to jacks such as 21 which act on arms such as 28 of the drum assembly. The jacks 21 can be regulated to pull the levers for moving the roll l1 into pressure relation with the roll Hi. The roll i1 includes a perforated shell or cylinder 29 which is rotatable around a stationary suction gland or box 30. The suction gland or box has spaced opposed packing strips 3| and 32 extending therefrom into sealing relation with the cylinder 29 to define therebetween a restricted suction area 0 at about the horizontal center plane of the shell 29.

The pick-up felt i 2 is directed around the under side of the shell I8 in advance of the suction area A so as to cover this suction area. The web W on the pick-up felt l2, of course, is subjected to the suction in the suction area A, and water in the web is sucked through the felt l2. A top felt 33 is directed by a roll 34 to meet with and cover the web W on the felt l2 on the under side of the shell i6 intermediate the ends of the suction area A.

The shells I8 and 29 cooperate to define an upward passage vertical nip N from which water can drain by gravity as illustrated into a trough 35 without contacting either of the felts or the web therebetween. Such drainage occurs it the roll I1 is a plain roll and such a plain roll my be used if desired. i A

As shown; the packing strips 22 and 32 in the cooperating rolls I6 and H are substantially in horizontal alignment so that the suction area A and the suction area C terminate at the same point in the nip. The nip is thus subjected to suction from the area A drawing water from the web W through the felt l2 and suction from the area 0 drawing water from the web W through the felt 33. The water in the web therefore passes through both faces thereof into both felts, and through these felts into opposed suction chambers. There is no pile up of water in advance of the nip since thenip opens downwardly and is self-draining.

The two felts with the web therebetween, after passing through the nip N, pass around the top of the cylinder l8 over the suction area B where they are held tightly on the cylinder by a light suction existing in the area B.

After passing over the top packing strip 23 the vacuum in the holes of the cylinder I6 is broken and any water released from these holes is caught in a collecting trough 36 so that it cannot drain down and rewet the felt H. The web W passes between the two felts l2 and 33 as indicated and guide rolls such as G then serve to direct the felts away from the web and back to the cylinder mold Ii and suction drum I. A wringer roll 31 can be provided to cooperate with the roll 34 for squeezing the felt 33 before it recontacts the web W. Likewise the suction box 38 can be provided to dry the felt.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the suction drum l6 receives both felts and web around the top thereof and the felts convey the web over the top of the cylinder mold to a drier section (not shown). In this assembly the pick-up felt, when traveling over the cylinder mold to pick up the web therefrom, is traveling away from the drier section.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 of the drawings a cylinder type paper making machine of the type wherein the pick-up felt passing over the cylinder mold is traveling toward the drier section is equipped with a. suction drum press of this invention.

In Figure 2 parts identical with parts described in connection with Figure 1 havebeen marked with the same reference numerals.

The suction drum press 46 of Figure 2 includes the same drum l6 as the press l4 of Figure 1, but the cooperating roll or drum 4| is different than the roll ll of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2 the drum 4| includes a rotating perforated cylinder or shell 42 containing a stationary suction gland or box 43 therein. The box 43 has packing strips 44, 45, 46 and 41 projecting therefrom to define three suction areas D, E and F on the cylinder 42. The suction area D is at the nip N of the assembly and is in direct communication with the interior of the suction box 43. The suction area E between the strips 45 and 46 is a relatively wide area extending between the areas D and F and having restricted communication through an opening 43a with the interior of the suction box. A butterfly valve 48 is provided in this opening 43 to control the effective size of the opening for regulating the degreeof vacuum in the area E. The suction area F between the packing strips 46 and 41 is in direct communication with the interior of the suction gland and is at the top of the cylinder 42.

A top press roll 49 is rotatably mounted on top of the cylinder 42 and cooperates to define therewith a horizontal nip N.

The packing strip 22 of the suction drum I6 is The pick-up felt I! with the web W thereonfrom the cylinder mold ll isbrought onto the shell l8 of the drum I6 as defined in connection with Figure 1, and the top felt 33 covers the web on the shell l8 intermediate ends of the suction area A and in advance of the nip N. The web W between the felts 33 and I2 is brought into this vertical nip N where any free water can drain by gravity into the trough 35 and where the web is subjected to suction applied through both felts from the suction area A and from the suction area D. The suction area D continues beyond the nip end and aids in the transfer of the felts and web to the cylinder or shell 42 of the roll 4|. In this arrangement the valve 24 closes the opening No in the suction box i3 of the drum l8 since the suction area B is uncovered and should not be exposed to the interior of the suction box. The web between the felts travels on the shell 42 over the suction area E which holds the felts and web on the shell and which prevents water in the holes of the shell from being discharged outwardly back through the felt 33 into the web. The web and felts then pass over the suction area F and through the horizontal nip N. Any water dis-- charged from the holes in the shell 42 after'the same pass beyond the suction area F will be collected in the trough 35.

The pick-up felt I2 is separated from the web W and trained around the toppress roll 43 as shown. The felt 33 then conveys the web W on the top thereof to the drier section and the felt is returned as shown.

If desired, and as an alternative arrangement, the felts can be separated after passage through the vertical nip N and the pick-up felt I: returned around the suction drum l6 as shown in dotted lines. In this arrangement the valve 24 will of course be opened to hold the water in the holes of said suction rolls cooperating to define an upward passage nip, suction boxes in each suction roll defining directly opposed suction areas on the roll on each lateral side of the nip, and said suction roll within the loop of the pick-up felt receiving the pick-up felt and covering felt thereon in advance of the nip and having an additional suction area extending around the underside thereof in advance of said nip acting on both felts before they reach the pressure portion of the nip, said additional suction area extending beyond the initial point of common lapping of said felts on such roll,. thereby removing excess liquid from said pick-up felt and web prior to contact of said covering felt therewith.

2. A suction press comprising first and second horizontally aligned rolls defining an upward passage vertical nip, a top roll cooperating with said second roll to define a horizontal nip, a pick-up felt lapping the top and bottom of the first roll and extending around the nip-defining side thereof, a cover felt lapping the underside of the first roll and the top portion of the second roll to pass through both the vertical and the horizontal nip out of the path of drainage from the vertical nip, --sald first roll having a high vacuum area extending from the underside thereof into the vertical hip and a low vacuum area extending from said nip around the top part of the roll to hold the water in the holes, and said second roll having high vacuum areas at both nips together with an intermediate low vacuum area holding the water in the holes of the roll as it passes between the nips.

3. A suction drum press comprising first and second horizontally aligned rolls defining a vertical upward passage nip, a wet web carrying felt trained around the nip side of the first roll contacting said roll substantially from the bottom to the top thereof, said first roll having a suction box therein defining two adlacent suction areas with the first area extending from the underside of the roll to the nip and the second area the shell l8 until the felt leaves the shell. The

top felt 33 then goes up on around the suction roll II and is subjected to pressure in the nip N. When the felts are divided in the nip N, it is highly desirable that the suction area D extendslightly above the nip to make sure that the sheet or web W sticks to the top felt 33 and goes on around the roll 4|.

From the above descriptions it will be understood that the invention greatly simplifies water removal problems on cylindertype paper making machines and provides suction drum presses which efficiently extract the water from wet, soggy webs without in any way damaging the webs and without permitting the webs to be rewet.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cylinder type paper making machine including a looped pick-up felt for receiving a paper web from the cylinder mold of the machine on the under face thereof and a looped covering felt for covering said web on said pickup felt, a suction roll within the loop of each felt,

extending from the nip to the top of the roll, said first area communicating with the interior of the suction box only adjacent the nip for retention of .fiuids in the bottom of the box, and a valve connectingthe second area with the interior of said box to control the degree of vacuum in the'secand area, a cover felt, means for training said cover felt into contact with the web and then through the nip, the initial contact between said cover felt and the web being located adjacent an intermediate portion of said first suction area, thereby removing excess liquid from the web prior to contact of said cover felt therewith.

4. In combination, a suction press comprising cooperating suction rolls arranged for rotation to define an upward passage nip therebetween, a suction box in one roll defining a first suction area at said nip, a suction box in the other roll defining a second suction area extending from near the bottom of said other roll upwardly to said nip, means guiding a pickup felt with. a wet paper web on its underside across the face of said second suction area, means for guiding a covering felt into contact with the web below and laterally of said nip, said covering felt initially contacting,

looped pick-up felt for carrying a wet web and a looped cover felt to cover the web on the pick-up felt, a roll within the loop of each felt, said rolls cooperating to define an upward passage pressure nip, thereby providing free gravitational drainage of liquid pressed from said nip, a suction box in said roll within the loop or the pickup felt, said suction box having a suction area adjacent said upward passage pressure nip, means for guiding both felts with the web therebetween into said nip in contact with said suction roll, thereby positioning both felts out of the path of liquid draining from said nip, said suction area extending in advance of said nip beyond the initial point of common lapping of said felts on such roll, thereb removing excess liquid from said pick-up felt and web prior to contact of said cover felt therewith.

LLOYD HORNBOSTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Goodwillie et a1 May 9. 1944 

